Adaware Antivirus Free for Windows

Adaware free moves into the big league of security suites

Most users will be familiar with Adaware Antivirus Free, the anti-spyware app that’s been around for over a decade. In version 10, developers Lavasoft made the jump from anti-spyware to fully-fledged antivirus. In version 11 and 12, they've improved and tweaked it to produce a security suite which they claim significantly outperforms all other free anti-virus and anti-malware products.

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Softonic review

Very good

8

Most users will be familiar with Adaware Antivirus Free, the anti-spyware app that’s been around for over a decade. In version 10, developers Lavasoft made the jump from anti-spyware to fully-fledged antivirus. In version 11 and 12, they've improved and tweaked it to produce a security suite which they claim significantly outperforms all other free anti-virus and anti-malware products.

Slick and intuitive user interface

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Adaware Antivirus Free looks clean and simple, taking advantage of the streamlined look of Windows 8. Installation is fast although it does try to launch a scan upon start-up. You can skip this if you like and you're presented with a clean interface that's clearly divided into separate functions along the left-hand side, namely Home, Scan Computer, RealTime Protections, Web Protection, Network Protection, App Management.

3 different types of scans

Ad-Aware offers lots of scan options, making things very flexible for the user. There are 3 initial scan options, Quick, Full, and Custom. The Custom option is particularly nice, allowing you to completely customize the scan with easy checkbox inclusions. You can also schedule scans, a must-have option for a modern antivirus. Scans aren’t particularly quick but can be paused if you find they are slowing down your system too much. LavaSoft have beefed-up the power of the anti-virus engine by introducing the award-winning BitDefender to version 11 of AdAware.

Easy to manage plus Gaming Mode

The rest of Adaware Antivirus Free options are divided into two parts – the ones under Protection Settings (top right-hand corner) and under Options. Under Protection Settings, you’ll be able to tweak the real-time protection and browsing options, although Safe Browsing can only be enabled and disabled, and not customized. Under Adaware's Main Options, there are various settings related to the basic operation, updates and an explanation of Gaming Mode (although this can be quickly toggled in the main interface and from the taskbar).

A serious competitor to the big boys

In all, we’re impressed by Adaware's addition of BitDefender to the antivirus suite, and we’re looking forward to trying it over time and seeing what future updates bring. Right now, it’s a solid app, with impressive detection rates, a slick Windows 8 modeled interface with all the basic options. It still doesn't have the brand trust of competitors such as Avast!, Avira, and AVG but it’s now certainly an antivirus to be reckoned with.

4 different versions available

Although Adaware Antivirus Free is comprehensive and powerful enough for most needs, there are actually 4 other versions of Ad-Aware available offering slightly different functionality which is something that users of Ad-Aware might find confusing under the settings of Advanced Protection.

They are different according to which version of Adaware you are running. Adaware Antivirus Free 12 is available in four versions including this one i.e. Pro Security and Personal Security and Total Security.

In effect, they are the same but more advanced features become available as you move through the versions. This will annoy some users who would prefer a fully comprehensive free version but at least Adaware doesn’t nag you to upgrade.

Total Protection beyond the NSA?

It's worth noting that Lavasoft claims that Adaware Total Security also includes Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox which has been built in partnership with Sweden’s renowned SafeIT Security (which Lavasoft claim can even protect you from the reaches of the NSA). For those in search of serious protection, it may be worth checking-out what Total Security can offer.

Changes

Author's review

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+

Ad-Aware Free features real-time anti-malware protection, rootkit protection, and community-driven initiatives. Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ now includes the following features that were, up to now, reserved for our paid products: Gaming (silent) mode, Advanced Rootkit Protection, Enhanced Real-Time Protection, Download protection to block malicious files before they are written to disk.

Adaware Antivirus Free 12.2.889

User reviews about Adaware Antivirus Free

by Anonymous

Great antivirus in combination with Adware Removal Tool and Web Companion.
The review of this product helped me decide to download this free product. The Chrome and Firefox extensions are great too. I wonder if there's an APK for Android?Pros: free.anti virus.Cons: the cleaner could work better More

reviewed on February 9, 2018

by Anonymous

Product works, but sponsored links ruin the experience.
A good product that totally infuriates by trying to by default install unwanted software.Pros: It works.Cons: Get rid of default changes to web browsing More

reviewed on July 1, 2016

by Anonymous

wouldnt recomend it until a faster version comes out..
does what its supposed to do, but slows the pc down and has advertising pop up every ten minutes, which can really get you in trouble if you re playing in a group in an mmorpg. More

reviewed on February 1, 2016

by Anonymous

Very bad, sucker install process..
Install process tries to trick you to add software, not wanted. The chat application, GeekBuddy, it says is to provide support is a constant pop-up trying to get you to add more software and is difficult to uninstall. Ad-Aware finds and removes spyware, but the free version tries to make money off of selling you more services by deceptive install boxes and descriptions. More

reviewed on October 6, 2015

by Anonymous

Slowed downloads to a crawl.
Once I installed this software, webpages like Dropbox became practically unusable --- any time one clicked to either download or just view/listen to a file, Chrome would simply freeze up for a minute or two (depending on the file size) before giving any response. Very frustrating. Once the software (including the separate web add-on) was removed, the problem disappeared. More

reviewed on March 1, 2015

by Anonymous

Excellent and easy to use..
The best free real-time scanner there is. It detects more "in the wild" viruses than either AVG or AVAST! . It has a good interface and is easy to use.Cons: Still not as good as Kaspersky More